World Cup Odds: Chile -200, Australia +560, Draw +270
Why Chile Can Win
Chile has a couple of excellent players in Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal that can dominate this game. Sanchez will be joined by Eduardo Vargas up front, but the spotlight will be on the 25-year-old Sanchez, who plays for Barcelona and is coming off a career season. He has 22 goals already for his country and he’ll be crucial to their chances, especially against Spain and the Netherlands. Vidal plays for Juventus and while he might play a little more defensively against the other teams in the group, Vidal will be allowed to venture forward more in this game. He is being touted as one of the players to watch at the World Cup and if he plays the way we know he can, Juve is going to have their hands full keeping him away from the other giants of Europe.
Keeper Claudio Bravo is the captain and he will have the job of organizing the defense and with his team-leading 79 caps, his experience will be counted on by Chile.
Why Australia Can Win
Australia can win if they defend resolutely and find a way to hit Chile on the counter because they don’t have the horses to go toe-to-toe with Chile. Tim Cahill is 34 years old and while he is still a good player, he’ll have to plow a lone path up front while the rest of the team defends and he might be required to come back and help, which takes away Australia’s best chance to score. Captain Mile Jedinak plays in England for Crystal Palace, and he’ll have to shield the back four, which doesn’t have much experience at all and even less in goal, where Matt Ryan has eight appearances for his country. Australia has to be disciplined and not get out of position or they will be in trouble.
This team has no expectations after scoring three goals combined in their last two trips to the World Cup, but that means they should be relaxed; Australia is under no pressure, they just have to keep the score respectable and they will take that.
Outlook
Chile is going to have the majority of the possession and while it might take a little while to figure out a way through, players like Sanchez and Vidal will get through and then Australia will be out to make sure they don’t get embarrassed. This is a good start for Chile while Spain and the Netherlands go at it in the other Group B opener, and Chile might even be able to rest their stars ahead of meeting those powerhouses.
Pick: Chile
